Security beefed up for Laxmi puja

Dhenkanal: To ensure a peaceful 10-day Gajalakshmi Puja, the Dhenkanal district administration has deployed extensive security measures. Hours before the festival commenced on Sunday, local police conducted a flag march from the Main Stadium through all major bazaars to review readiness and deter miscreants.

SP Ajinkya B Mane announced security deployment of 24 platoons across Dhenkanal for the festival running from October 25 to November 4. The personnel include two additional SPs, 10 DSPs, 26 inspectors, 107 SIs/ASIs, 34 havildars, 30 traffic constables, 172 constables, and 346 home guards. This force will oversee security for 41 puja pandals. The strategy includes dividing the puja bazaars into six sectors featuring 18 temporary police posts. An inspector will manage each post, with a DSP overseeing each sector.

Security will be tightened for the puja with the deployment of bomb disposal squads, plainclothes teams, and anti-snatching patrols. The police are also cracking down on drunkenness to maintain order. To safeguard women and children, the SP announced a special task force to combat eve-teasing and street crime. Officers have been ordered to treat citizens with respect, as the SP emphasised that an incident-free festival relies on the cooperation of all stakeholders.

Local authorities have inspected pandals and torans in accordance with the State Police Headquarters’ advisory. They will also ban heavy vehicles in the town from 3 pm to midnight to ensure smooth traffic flow.

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Rudra Pratap